Funeral vehicles

ABSTRACT

A funeral vehicle ( 1 ) comprises a sidecar ( 2 ) in the form of a hearse having a chassis ( 4 ) carrying a wheel ( 6 ) and a superstructure ( 8 ) mounted on the chassis and defining a reception area ( 10 ) for a coffin ( 12 ).

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to funeral vehicles.

In particular it has reference to such vehicles of a kind for which thetraction is provided by a motorcycle.

It is known in the art to provide a trailer for a motorcycle providedwith an appropriate coffin reception area having mounting for securingthe coffin in situ during transportation. It is also known to employ asidecar chassis having a simple plate for carrying the coffin.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved vehiclefor the transportation of a coffin or other funeral casket for themortal remains of the deceased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a funeral vehicle in theform of a sidecar having a wheeled chassis provided with a sidecarsuperstructure defining a covered reception area for the mortal remainsof the deceased and including an access door through which the mortalremains may be inserted into and removed from said area.

The sidecar superstructure affords a weatherproof vehicle intended to beattached to a motorcycle for traction. The vehicle of the invention,i.e. The motorcycle hearse or carriage, constitutes a substantivedeparture from the prior art in that it enables the mortal remains ofthe deceased, usually contained within a casket, to be easily maneuveredinto and out of the funeral carriage. A deck is located within thevehicle to afford support to the casket and may be provided with theusual rollers to assist movement therealong.

The upper part of the vehicle superstructure is preferably glazedthereby to allow onlookers to view the coffin and floral tributes. Theglazing may be provided with conventional toughened glass or a suitabletransparent plastics material. The superstructure of the vehicle mayconveniently be shaped to project a streamlined image or in thealternative may be of rectilinear box-like form in order better toaccommodate the coffin shape.

The access door of the superstructure may be of hatch back design toallow shelter for the living, e.g. a pall bearer, in the event of badweather the door being suitably hinged and advantageously having gasstruts for ease of opening and maintenance of the door in the openposition when desired.

The vehicle may be provided with means for cooling the reception area,namely the interior of the superstructure. Such means may be in the formof a simple cooling fan or a more complex refrigeration system. Thepower for such means may in the form of a battery or may be driven offthe main traction unit, i.e. The motorcycle engine, when running.

The funeral vehicle may also be provided with means for illuminating thereception area powered in the same manner as the cooling means.

The vehicle of the present invention may be provided on its roof withrailings, e.g. Wreath rails, in the manner of a conventional hearse inorder to define a platform on which floral or other tributes to thedeceased may be lain.

The vehicle may also be provided with a compartment adjacent thereception area and in particular may be disposed there beneath, afurther deck being provided for support. The compartment may be designedto house other funeral accoutrements and possibly vestments to be usedor worn at the ceremony. The compartment may be of sufficient magnitudeto allow the stowage of for example the trestles used to support thecoffin during the funeral service. Other accoutrements may be the ropesor tapes for lowering the coffin into the grave when an interment isplanned. Maintenance equipment for the motorcycle may also be stowed inthe compartment along with possibly personal apparel for use during andat either end of the funeral journey.

In the alternative the compartment may itself be of a size as to be ableto accommodate a further casket should there be a need. The vehicle maythen be considered to be double-decked.

The superstructure of the vehicle may be produced from conventionalmaterials and provided with surface embellishments or decorationsuitable for a funeral vehicle. Preferably the finish on thesuperstructure and the vehicle generally is of high quality to reflectthe nature of the occasion for which it is intended.

The overall dimensions of the vehicle are selected dependent upon thepractical requirements dictated by standard coffin sizes as far as thereception area is concerned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example only, two embodiments of a funeral vehicle accordingto the invention are described below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the vehicle partly insectioned outline;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an alternative plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an alternative end view to that shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of the vehicle partly insectioned outline.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 a funeral vehicle is shown at 1 and comprisesa sidecar 2 in the form of a hearse, the sidecar being provided with achassis 4 carrying a wheel 6 and being adapted for connection to amotorcycle (not shown). A superstructure 8 is mounted on the chassis 4and is provided with suspension means (not shown) and defines in itsinterior a reception area 10 for accommodation in use of the mortalremains of a deceased person. The remains are normally contained withina coffin or casket 12 for which the vehicle provides a supporting deck14. The deck 14 has rollers 16 (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 but see FIG.6) which assist the coffin 12 in its passage during insertion andextraction from the reception area 10. A stop (not shown) may beprovided at either end of the deck 14 in order to locate the coffin 12in a positive manner during transit, although the weight of the coffinenclosing the cadaver will usually be sufficient to ensure stability.

The superstructure 8 is enclosed and is provided with a glazed upperpart 20 with transparent panels 21 in its side, end and roof 23 for thepurpose of allowing mourners to view the coffin and any floral tributesduring transit and upon arrival at the church, the crematorium or theplace of interment. A glazed hatch back 22 is located at and hinged tothe rear end of the superstructure and is so mounted as to facilitateopening and closure. To this end standard gas struts 24 are provided oneach side of the vehicle, the door being provided with a suitable catchor catches (not shown) to secure the door in its closed position.

The top of the superstructure 8 may be provided externally thereof withwreath rails (not shown) for the purpose, as the appellation denotes, ofconstraining wreaths or other floral tributes and accordingly thesidecar vehicle of the present invention is intended to project theconventional image in use of a hearse.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2, 4 and 3, 5 the superstructure of thevehicle presents either a box shape of rectilinear form (FIGS. 2, 4) orof streamlined or tapered form (FIGS. 3, 5) at its front end, the boxform being easier to manufacture for obvious reasons.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown a second embodiment of funeralvehicle similar to that shown in the foregoing figures save for thedisposition of a further deck 30 beneath the deck 14 into which anothercoffin or other accoutrements or funeral paraphernalia may be stowedwithin the space 32 therein defined. For example the trestles on whichthe coffin is to stand during the funeral ceremony or otherwise togetherwith the vestments of the pastor designated to conduct the funeral ritesmay also be stored therein. In the alternative or in addition otherpractical materials or artifacts may be stowed therein, for exampletools, safety wear for the journey. The space 32 is preferably closedoff at its rear part with a tailgate 34 as shown suitably hinged to thesuperstructure.

And as seen in FIG. 6, the vehicle 1 may be provided on its roof withrailing 36, e.g. Wreath rails, in order to define a platform on whichfloral or other tributes to the deceased may be lain.

In use a coffin 12 is passed into the reception area 10 of thesuperstructure 8 for transport, the hatch back 22 being securelyfastened for the journey from the undertakers to the home of thedeceased and thence to the funeral service and final committee. It isenvisaged that the funeral vehicle of the present invention will beattended by the pastor appointed to undertake the funeral rites and inparticular the pastor may be the motorcycle rider driving the sidecarhearse.

It is further expected that the funeral vehicle of the present inventionwill be of particular interest to ‘bikers’ in terms of making their lastjourney in this world in association with the motorcycle that has playedsuch a signal if not iconic part of their lives.

The funeral vehicle is constructed of materials and finished to thehighest specification thereby to afford the appropriate attributes ofdignity and solemnity, whilst at the same time offering to the deceasedand indeed to friends and relatives the unique opportunity to beidentified with the object of reverence with which the deceased had beenassociated so closely in this mortal world.

1. A funeral vehicle in the form of a sidecar having a wheeled chassisprovided with a sidecar superstructure defining a covered reception areafor the mortal remains of the deceased and including an access doorthrough which the mortal remains may be inserted into and removed fromsaid area, wherein a deck with rollers is provided within the vehicle toafford support to said mortal remains.
 2. A vehicle according to claim 1in which the sidecar superstructure is weatherproof.
 3. A vehicleaccording to claim 1 in which the relatively upper part of thesuperstructure is glazed.
 4. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which theaccess door is a hatch back.
 5. A vehicle according to claim 4 in whichthe hatchback is provided with gas struts.
 6. A vehicle according toclaim 1 in which cooling means for the reception area are provided.
 7. Avehicle according to claim 6 in which the cooling means includes acooling fan.
 8. A vehicle according to claim 6 in which the coolingmeans includes a refrigeration system.
 9. A vehicle according to claim 1in which illumination means are provided for the reception area.
 10. Avehicle according to claim 1 in which the top of the superstructure isprovided with wreath rails.
 11. A vehicle according to claim 1 in whicha compartment is provided beneath the reception area.
 12. A vehicleaccording to claim 11 in which the compartment is adapted to hold acoffin.
 13. A vehicle according to claim 11 in which the compartment isadapted to contain funerary paraphernalia.
 14. A vehicle according toclaim 1 in which the superstructure is streamlined in shape.
 15. Avehicle according to claim 1 in which the superstructure is ofrectilinear form.
 16. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which the wheelsof the wheeled chassis are positioned on the outside of the lower partof the chassis.
 17. A vehicle according to claim 1 in which the rollersare aligned with the access door.